Awards

Virginia Weidler was never nominated for an Academy Award.

Virginia Anna Adeleid Weidler was born March 21, 1927. She was the sixth and final child born to Alfred Weidler, an architect, and Margaret Weidler (born Margarete Therese Louise Radon; 1890-1987), a former opera singer. She was the second Weidler child born in the United States after the family emigrated from Germany in 1923.

Virginia Weidler made her first film appearance in 1931. Her first credited role was as Europena in Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934) a role she won at age seven after having been seen in the play Autumn Crocus. Virginia made a big impression on audiences as the little girl who would “hold my breath ‘til I am black in the face” to get her way.

For the next several years, she would appear in many memorable films from George Stevens’ Laddie (1935) to a pivotal supporting role in Souls at Sea (1938) starring Gary Cooper and George Raft. Despite being under contract to Paramount, just as many of her roles of the period took place while on loan to RKO-Radio Pictures.

When Paramount did not extend her contract, she was signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1938. Her first film for MGM was with their leading male star Mickey Rooney in Love Is a Headache (1938). The film was a success and Weidler was later cast in larger roles. She was one of the all-female cast of the 1939 film The Women, as the daughter of Norma Shearer‘s character.

Her next major success was The Philadelphia Story (1940) in which she played Dinah Lord, the witty younger sister of Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn). Her film career ended with the 1943 film Best Foot Forward.

At her retirement from the screen at age 16, she had appeared in more than forty films, and had acted with some of the biggest stars of the day, including Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in Too Hot to Handle, Bette Davis in All This and Heaven Too, and Judy Garland in Babes on Broadway.

In addition to her parents, Virginia had three brothers and two sisters. Her brothers Warner (born Werner), Walter (born Wolfgang), and George were successful musicians after some child acting work, eventually owning their own recording studio. Her brother George was married to singer-actress Doris Day from 1946-49 (his first marriage, her second). Her sisters, Sylvia (born Waltraud) and Renee (born Verena), also were involved in show business prior to their marriages.

Her father turned his architectural skills into a career building miniature sets for 20th Century Fox.

On March 27, 1947, aged 20, Weidler married Lionel Krisel. They had two sons, Ron and Gary.

Weidler refused to be interviewed for the remainder of her life, living in private. She remained married to Krisel until her death at age 41 in Los Angeles from a lifelong heart ailment on July 1, 1968.

TCM Star of the Month for May is Marlene Dietrich

Book Of The Week

In the pre-Code Hollywood era, between 1929 and 1934, women in American cinema took lovers, had babies out of wedlock, got rid of cheating husbands, enjoyed their sexuality, led unapologetic careers, and, in general, acted the way many think women only acted after 1968. Before then, women on screen ...

Dinner and A Movie Anyone?

Featured Books

Leonard Maltin is America’s best-known film historian, film reviewer, and author of books that have sold more than 7 million copies. He remains a thought leader on past and present Hollywood through his website www.leonardmaltin.com, and a social media presence that includes an active Facebook pag...

In Our Bookstore

One of the most beautiful stars ever in films, Gene Tierney proved also to be a stellar actress and often wore fashion designs that matched her glorious beauty. In this much anticipated paper doll book by Marilyn Henry, we see a wide spectrum of Gene's movie clothes, from exotic to modern, from Sund... More info →

Buy This Book Online

Shop Hollywood Memorabilia

Legal Stuff

Copyright Notice: Photographs and videos found in this blog, unless indicated, are not owned by me and are here only for the purpose of education and discussion.

AMAZON DISCLOSURE: I participate in the Amazon Services, LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties. There is no additional cost to you.

Media found here are not intended for any commercial purpose. Copyright infringement is not intended. Written material belongs to me and is copyrighted by classicmovietreasures.com